Green Card Messaging Triggers Anxiety as Trump Policy Sparks Confusion

A Trump administration directive suggesting that most permanent-residency applicants may have to wait abroad caused widespread confusion and anxiety for millions with pending green-card cases; DHS later backed away from the broad interpretation, framing it as a discretion reminder rather than a policy change. Immigration lawyers warn the move could curb legal immigration, trigger family separations, and contribute to a brain drain of highly skilled workers, with lawsuits likely challenging the policy.